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About Cambodia
About Cambodia: Traveller’ Essential

Climate and Weather

The climate can generally be described as tropical. As the country is affected by monsoon, it is hot and humid with an overage temperature around 27.C (80.F). There are two distinct seasons: the Rainy Season and the Dry Season. However, the Dry Season is divided into two sub-seasons, cool and hot. These seasons are
The Rainy season: From June till October 27-35.C (80-95.f)
The Dry season (cool): From November till February 17-27.C (80-95.F)
The Dry season (Hot) : From March till May 29-38.C (84-100.F)

Local Time

Cambodia runs at GMT +7 hours, the same time zone as its neighbors Thailand, Vietnam and Laos.

Cambodian Currency

US dollars are as commonly used as the Cambodian Riel and even Thai Baht is acceptable in many places. Most hotels and many restaurants and shops set their prices in dollars. Small transactions are usually done in Riel. Always carry some small Riel for motorcycle taxis, snacks, beggars and other small purchases. Riel notes come in 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000, 10,000, 50,000 and 100,000 denominations, but the distinctive red 500 Riel note is the most commonly used.

Credit cards and travelers checks are not common but are catching on. US dollar travelers checks are much more easily encashed than any other kind.

Money changers cluster around the markets. When accepting money, inspect the bills. Marred Riel is acceptable tender, but the tiniest tear in a large US note renders it worthless.

There are banks in all of the larger provincial capitals, including Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Battambang. Banks can change money, effect telegraphic transfers and some banks can cash travelers checks and accept Visa cards.

There is only two ATM in Cambodia, at the Canadia Bank in Phnom Penh and ANZ Royal Bank in Phnom Penh, and you must have a local account in order to use it. You cannot access foreign accounts from this.

Get In and Out of Cambodia

Cambodia is served by an increasing number of flights from neighboring countries to both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, though the best choice is from Bangkok in Thailand. There are now five overland crossings open to foreigners, two from Thailand, and two from Vietnam and one from Laos. Even if you have obtained a Cambodia visa before entry, it is essential to obtain an entry stamp in your passport when crossing overland, as failure to do so will cause serious problems when you come to leave the country.

Thailand : From Bangkok, there are regular daily flights to Phnom Penh, taking around an hour, with Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways and Royal Phnom Penh Airways; the last of these offers slightly cheaper fares than the other two, but can't be booked from outside the region. Bangkok Airways and Siem Reap Airways also fly daily to Siem Reap, with slightly higher frequency in the high season of December to February.

Overland trips to Cambodia from Thailand have increased in popularity and are well publicized in Bangkok, particularity on the Khao San Road, where travel agents try to sell their Bangkok-Siem Reap trips by alleging that doing the trip independently entails various problems (dealing with Cambodian border officials, sorting out onward transport, etc). In fact, it's straightforward enough to do the journey by public transport, and the convenience of using one of these private firms can be offset by much waiting around until the required number of passenger's turns up. Though most of these companies are reputable, a small minority of travelers has reported being ripped off over visas, and even being left for hours at the border waiting for onward transport; therefore it's worth asking fellow travelers of staff at your guesthouse about companies they would recommend or avoid. The Aranyaprethet/Poipet border crossing is ideal if you want to start your visit to Cambodia in the north at Battambang and Siem Reap, while Trat/Koh Kong is good for Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh. From Bangkok, you can reach Aranyaprathet by train (7hr) or by air-con bus (4hr); there are also air-con buses to Trat 95hr). Both borders are open daily (7am-5pm) and visas are issued on arrival. From Poipet, onward transport by shared taxi or pick-up is readily available to Sisophon ( for Siem Reap) and daily boats from Hong Kong to Sre Ambel (for Phnom Penh) and to Sihanoukville. Poipet is in fact derelict, the nearest train station being at Sisophon.

Vietnam : There are several regular daily flights to Phnom Penh and to Siem Reap from Ho Chi Minh City, operated by Vietnam Airlines and Royal Phnom Penh Airways. Border crossing are open to foreigners at Moc Bai/Bavet, 200km southeast of Phnom Penh, and at Chau Doc on the Bassac River, through note that Cambodian visas are not issued at either crossing point. From Bavet, it's easy to get shared taxis to Phnom Penh (6hr); though the road has been in appalling condition, the journey time should be reduced when repairs are completed at the beginning of 2003. If you've crossed over at Chau Doc, you may be able to get a moto the 60km to Phnom Penh, but given River, it's easier to take a short moto ride to the Mekong village of K'am Samnar, where you can get a boat north to Neak Leung (3hr), 37km east of Phnom Penh and connected to the capital by bus and shared taxi.
Note that only Cambodians and Vietnamese are permitted to cross east of Kep, despite assurances to the contrary from Sihanoukvill's Vietnamese consulate.

Laos : Laos Aviation and Vietnam Airlines operate daily flights from Vientiane to Phnom Penh, with stops in Siem Reap on Tuesday and Fridays; sometimes there's also an unscheduled stop in Pakxe. Adventurous travelers may wish to try the crossing between Voen Kham, an island in the Mekong, and the Cambodian town of Stung Treng. Visas are not issued on either side of the border, so you'll have to haggle with officials to get your passport stamped (Cambodia officials have been known to0 demand $60 for this, but you can bargain them down to $15). Private boats can be chartered on the Mekong between Voen Kham and Stung Treng ($25; 2hr).

Passport and Visa

A passport and visa are required. Tourists and business travelers may purchase a Cambodian visa valid for one month at the airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Both require a passport-sized photograph. A departure tax is charged on all domestic and international flights.

The entry points to obtain Visa
Airports :
- Phnom Penh International Airport
- Siem Reap International Airport

Cambodia-Vietnam border:
Bavet International Check Point (Svay Rieng Province)
Kha Orm Sam Nor International Check Point (Kandal Province)
Koh Rohka International Check Point (Prey Veng Province)

Cambodia-Thailand border:
Cham Yeam International Check Point (Koh Kong Province)
Poi Pet International Check Point (Banteay Meanchey Province)
Osmach International Check Point (Odor Meanchey Province)

Application for Visas and Fee : It is required for the visa applicants to submit passport, application forms, a recent passport-style color photograph, and such other documents as determined by the status of stay.
Single entry visa fee for tourist: US$ 20
Single entry visa fee for business: US$ 25

Visa Type
Tourist & Business Visas: Visitors from countries not under Visa Exemption Agreements must apply for a Tourists or business visa valid for one month at the points of entry.

Siem Reap International Airport

Visa K: Can be issued to a Cambodian national entering the Kingdom on a foreign passport. (The applicant has to provide well-documented evidence, such as proof that one's parents were Cambodian).

Visa Exemption: The nationals of the Philippines and Malaysia do not need a tourist visa and many stay in Cambodia for 21 and 30 days respectively.

Visa extension :

Tourist & Business Visas: The tourist (T) and business (E) visas can be extended at the Immigration Department, National Police. The Diplomatic (A), Official (B) and Courtesy (C) visas can be extended at the Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A tourist visa can be extended only once for up to one month (single entry).

A business visa can be extended for:
- One month (Single entry)
- Three months (Multiple entry)
- Six months (Multiple entry)
- One year (Multiple entry)
- Overstayers will be fined US$ 5 per day.